Which of the following best describes availability heuristic?

The availability heuristic refers to the mental shortcut that relies on immediate examples that come to mind when evaluating a specific topic or decision. This cognitive bias leads individuals to give more weight to information that is readily available or easily recalled, rather than seeking out all relevant information or considering the probability based on statistical evidence.

For instance, if someone frequently hears about airplane accidents in the news, they may overestimate the dangers of flying, simply because those events are more readily retrievable from memory. This heuristic can shape judgments about risks, causing people to make decisions based on how easily they can recall relevant instances rather than a comprehensive assessment of the actual data or facts.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of the availability heuristic. Judgments based purely on validated facts represent a more analytical approach, while confirming existing theories is associated with confirmation bias. Evaluating outcomes typically involves weighing various factors and outcomes, which is distinct from the simplified recall process that characterizes the availability heuristic.